Case Study - The Black Death Of 1349

Question 1

What is the date of the Black Death and which period of history does it fall into?

Answer 1

1349 - The Medieval period/The Middle Ages

Question 2

That was the nickname at the time for the Black Death?

Answer 2

‘Scourge’

Question 3

The Black Death =

Answer 3

The Black Death = The Bubonic Plague

Question 4

How did the plague actually spread?

Answer 4

By fleas who lived on rats travelling in on merchant ships

Some forms were spread through the air, but mostly through flea bites

Question 5

What did people think caused it?

Answer 5

1) Supernatural things
2) Natural things
3) Common beliefs

Question 6

Describe Supernatural things in terms of causing the plague

Answer 6

1) Black Death was a punishment from God for the sins of man

2) Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in a strange way

Question 7

Describe Natural things in terms of causing the plague

Answer 7

1) Miasma caused corruption to the body’s humours

2) People believed that impure air came from poisonous fumes released by earth quakes or volcanos

Question 8

Describe Common beliefs in terms of causing the plague

Answer 8

1) The Jews had poisoned the wells (Only in Europe however, as the Jews had been expelled from England in the 13th century!)

Question 9

What treatments were available for it?

Answer 9

1) Supernatural = Confess sins and ask God for forgiveness through prayer
2) Natural = Bleeding and purging
Strong smelling herbs such as aloe and myrrh
Lighting a fire and boiling vinegar
Lancing the buboes
Apothecaries sold remedies and herbs

Question 10

How did people try to prevent it?

Answer 10

1) Supernatural
2) Natural
3) Government action

Question 11

Describe Supernatural in terms of preventions of the plague

Answer 11

1) Pray and fast
2) Go on a pilgrimage and make offerings to God
3) Flagellants who went around whipping themselves to punish themselves and prove to God that they were sorry

Question 12

Describe Natural in terms of prevention

Answer 12

1) Run away
2) Carry fragrant flowers
3) Avoid bathing
4) Avoid those with the disease

Question 13

Describe Government action in terms of preventions

Answer 13

1) Quarantine was introduced
2) Houses were also quarantined
3) Large crowds of people were discouraged
4) Stopped cleaning the street as they thought the foul smell would drive away the evil daemons